#82: Stress Recognition -- Part 2

In this second of three parts looking into stress, we chart our individual stress profile.

It's important to recognize the signs of stress before a crisis occurs. If you become aware of your own symptoms of stress, you can take steps to minimize its affects and consequently the tendency of stress to cause overeating. The following lists can be used to help check stress symptoms from time to time.

Enter your answer to each of the following sections according to the following key:

1 = Never 2 = Very Rarely 3 = At Least Once a Month 4 = At Least Once a Week
5 = Several times a week

If the given examples do not apply to your specific situations, make a best-guess decision.

PHYSICAL STRESS INDICATORS

___ Increased muscular tension from long periods of sitting
___ Changes in breathing rate from job tension
___ High blood pressure due to rushing, poor diet, high stress
___ Cold hands
___ Dry mouth and nervousness from critical incidents
___ Sweaty palms after a physical chase, encounter or confrontation
___ Sudden change in appetite due to conflicts with supervisors
___ Tension headaches when preparing for tests
___ Lower back pain after many hours walking or standing
___ Restlessness while participating in mandatory training

___ TOTAL DIVIDED BY 10 = ___

MENTAL STRESS INDICATORS

___ Increased forgetfulness
___ Decreased performance in general
___ Tendency to lose perspective when making decisions
___ Excessive daydreaming and "spacing out" during meetings
___ Non-logical thinking in problem solving
___ Reliance on old work habits
___ Poor judgment in time management

___ TOTAL DIVIDED BY 7 = ___

EMOTIONAL STRESS INDICATORS

___ Irritability with fellow workers
___ Non-specific anxiety toward unusual circumstances
___ Development of phobias that are work related
___ Depression due to work frustrations
___ Emotional withdrawal from own family
___ Emotional outbreaks toward co-workers
___ Hostile behavior toward family, friends and co-workers

___ TOTAL DIVIDED BY 7 = ___

BEHAVIORAL STRESS INDICATORS

___ Sudden changes in work habits
___ Radical changes in personal habits when on the job
___ Insomnia resulting from shift work
___ Lethargy due to long hours of boring work
___ Increased use of alcohol
___ Increased use of drugs
___ Increased smoking
___ Absenteeism
___ Increased clumsiness as you move through your work life

___ TOTAL DIVIDED BY 9 = ___

Now look at your totals on a one to five scale. Stress is most likely from an area with a high score.

Using these scales will allow you to check your stress level over time. If you find a correlation between when your scores are high and eating, then work to substitute other behavior (walking outside, cleaning house, etc.) for eating.

* * * * *

This is a continuation of self-analysis stress scales from Stress Recognition and Resolution training classes.

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor." Henry David Thoreau